Genetic Testing Specialist

Eastside Children's Clinic

Pediatricians located in Allen, TX

Some types of genetic testing determine your risk for serious diseases, but the type of genetic testing done at Eastside Children’s Clinic in Allen, Texas, serves a different purpose. The pediatricians perform genetic testing to learn how your child metabolizes psychiatric medication, which gives them the information they need to prescribe the type of medicine and dose that’s best for each individual. If you have questions about genetic testing or you’d like to schedule an appointment, call the office or use the online booking feature.

Genetic Testing Q & A

Why might my child need genetic testing?

The experienced pediatricians at Eastside Children’s Clinic diagnose and treat mental health conditions such as depression, ADHD, and anxiety. Many patients benefit from medications that help relieve their symptoms. However, prescribing the right medication isn’t a straightforward decision because each patient metabolizes medications differently, and there are many psychiatric medications to choose from.

All the different classes of pharmaceuticals, such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers, include several types of medications. Each medication in the same class works through different mechanisms in your body. Your child may respond well to one medication from the class, all of them, or sometimes, none of them.

Due to these individual differences, children and teens typically go through a routine period of trial-and-error. Your pediatrician begins with the most appropriate dose of the best medication for your child, then adjusts the dose and drug as needed depending on your child’s response. Genetic testing, however, eliminates these variables.

How does genetic testing improve my child’s treatment?

With genetic testing, the pediatricians at Eastside Children’s Clinic can reduce or eliminate all the trial-and-error and provide personalized treatment that improves your child’s symptoms as quickly as possible.

When your child has genetic testing, the results show:

How their body metabolizes each type of medication

How their genes affect each medication’s action and effectiveness

Variations in their metabolism that determine the optimal dose

Their potential risk for side effects or interactions

A genetic test may show that your child metabolizes a certain medication more rapidly, for example. With that information in hand, their pediatrician knows to prescribe a higher dose or more frequent doses to keep their blood levels at the concentration needed to improve their symptoms.

Or your child’s genetic test could show that they metabolize a medication slowly. This information tells your pediatrician to prescribe a lower dose so your child can feel better without the risk of side effects.

What happens during genetic testing?

Genetic testing is a quick and easy procedure. Your child’s pediatrician at Eastside Children’s Clinic takes a cheek swab, or a buccal swab, by rubbing a swab on the inside of their cheek. The process only takes a few seconds, and then the sample is sent to a DNA lab for testing.

If you’d like to learn more about genetic testing, call Eastside Children’s Clinic or schedule an appointment online.